North Norfolk Railway based BR 9F No. 92203 ‘Black Prince’ has been withdrawn from traffic near the end of its 10 year boiler ticket.
The locomotive has travelled for almost 35,000 miles in service and has been a regular performer at The Poppy Line since entering service in 2014.
92203 was sidelined back in December and investigations have found a leak in the main internal steam pipe.
The leak has been traced back to where the pipe is expanded into the smoke box tubeplate behind the superheater header, and it has been decided that it is not possible to complete a cost-effective repair given the limited use the locomotive would have seen until the expiry of its boiler ticket in early May.
“There was such a desire to move away from ‘old fashioned’ steam engines that many were set aside after scandalously short careers. Fortunately 92203 was purchased by wildlife artist and railway enthusiast, David Shepherd, and it was he that named the engine Black Prince.”
“Unfortunately the location of the fault and the amount of work needed means it is not possible to carry out a cost-effective repair given the limited use possible before the boiler ticket expires in early May.”
NNR Interim General Manager, Graham Hukins
Responses
To all those expressing knee jerk reactions, just stop this stupidity.
Take a deep breath and consider exactly what is required.
Examine the dear old loco, consider what are the needs, obtain quotations and then get your begging bowls ready.
Let us take this in an orderly manner and oh yes, where is the project leader?
I for one would gladly give a donation to see her back in peak condition again and think it a criminal loss if this piece of great British engineering was wasted, yes we all know there are other odd 9F’s about but read Sheppards book A Brush with Steam and you will realise this is more than just an engine! Lets get a fund up and running and how about some advertising given all the wasted lottery money I have seen blown away over the years!
Does anyone have any idea how much a full refurbishment of the boiler would be?
Ditto of above I had the footplate experience on her and it would be so sad if the money for the re-boilering parts along with other needed bits and bobs can’t be found from some wealthy lotto winner or the like so She can steam again in a year or so . All lotto winners please chip in to save a valuable piece of history never mind all these knockers, and I don’t just mean those who do a sterling job for the love of it too.
I think that groud funding for a new boiler should be considered but the boiler must be made to .in Britain
As trained boiler maker. It would not be a big task
As many may think. Ofcourse. 8n this day and age
It would . Be a fully welded construction .and
Hydraulicly tested to . 2 times its working pressure.
Job done . Us old boiler makers .platers . Dont frighten
Easily.
Not a big task? Welded? If this is meant as an online wind up- well done
What a great piece of machinery which will be sadly missed if it was not restored to its glory days.
Hope she won’t be left outside to rust and deteriorate there should be a found set up to help pay for these magnificent engines at all steam railway 🚂 station for the public put into if not already being done
I like all Steam Locomotives but 9f is definitely different and it’s one of a kind in respect of its short life in BR days I hope Black Prince will be up and running in no time at all good luck with all the hard work.
It’ll be overhauled again, get a new boiler certificate, and then grace the rails for another 10 years. I saw it on the West Somerset Railway back when the late Mr Shepherd still owned it and its a magnificent beast. Looking forward to seeing it again.
It’s sad to lose a good engine 9F that’s what they were built for but it won’t be forever 1st raise the money we know that they will repair it it’s not lost forever it’s just out of action for usually a long time but there are other 9fs Around so it’s not completely a loss Black Prince will be back we know that just after waiting and if you really want to why don’t you donate some money to them to the repair costs
I think we are all incredibly lucky to have any working steam locomotives at all. And, particularly, dedicated people, prepared to work very hard in uncomfortable conditions. In BR days, there may have been a boiler float. At least, unlike aircraft, steam plant doesn’t break easily, and every bit can be replaced. Regrettably not without eye-watering expense.
Hear, hear!
Always sad to lose a great class of locomotive from our rails for who knows how long.
Shame!
So what happens next?
The 9f were/are a very capable engine as shown on the Somerset and Dorset railway pulling long trains out of bath but we cannot afford to loose engines like this to the modern diesels that are more polluting the atmosphere and incapable of pulling the long trains so please try and find a solution
Hard to believe 10 years has already passed since David sheppard had her overhauled just prior to selling her to the NNR. Time has flown by.